in order to trick fans like you, the ibo gives their heavyweight title to the recognized champion for free. the recognized heavyweight accepts the free title because there is no sanctioning fee and it tricks fans like you into thinking they have another world title.

the wbc, wba, ibf and wbo recognize each other. none of them recognize the ibo.

sky sports doesnt recognize the ibo as a world title. neither does hbo or showtime.

The IBO do have sanctioning fees for their world titles, and they are in fact clearly stated on the IBO website. For example, for world title fights where the total purses don't exceed $100,000, the total sanctioning fee is $16,450.

Both Sky Sports and HBO recognize the IBO as a world title, for example Sky Sports reported that Chris Eubank Jr beat Quinlan for the IBO World Title and of course they will both always mention Joshua's IBO world title.

While the IBO title is lightly regarded in other divisions, as I mentioned before it has been held by only 4 elite heavyweights over the past 18 years, in fact arguably in modern times making the IBO Heavyweight Title perhaps just as valid as for example the IBF, which was held by Charles Martin in 2016, and the WBC which was held by Bermane Stiverne in 2014.

The IBO has been held by only Lewis, Klitschko, Fury and Joshua dating back to 1999 - 4 of the elite heavyweights of their respective eras, whereas both Martin and Stiverne aren't considered elites yet they were still able to acquire the IBF and WBC titles.

The IBO do have sanctioning fees for their world titles, and they are in fact clearly stated on the IBO website. For example, for world title fights where the total purses don't exceed $100,000, the total sanctioning fee is $16,450.

Nobody said they don't have sanctioning fees. What we said is that in the heavyweight division, they've chosen to waive the sanctioning fees in order to convince the recognized champion to agree to carry their title as well. It's a PR move for the IBO. Just like paying boxingscene to recognize the IBO is a PR move as well.

But that doesn't mean the IBO is a world title. Simphiwe Khonco is not a world champion. The world of boxing doesn't recognize the IBO. The IBO is smart and makes sure to avoid having an obscure champion in the heavyweight division, but that doesn't change the fact that it's not a recognized organization.

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Both Sky Sports and HBO recognize the IBO as a world title, for example Sky Sports reported that Chris Eubank Jr beat Quinlan for the IBO World Title and of course they will both always mention Joshua's IBO world title.

Just because news outlets will mention the factual information that the IBO title was at stake when reporting about a fight doesn't change the fact that Sky Sports as a network and HBO as a network do not recognize the IBO as a world championship.

In fact, Sky Sports is the #1 reason the IBO lost all of their momentum as Sky Sports years ago made the decision to no longer recognize minor titles like the IBO and WBU.

Three British fighters with claims to 'world' champion status simultaneously lost their title belts last month. Carl Thompson, Jawaid Khaliq and Damaen Kelley all held International Boxing Organization belts but the US-based sanctioning body was forced to strip the British trio of their crowns after each failed to make a defense in 2005.

What is interesting is that these fighters were not prevented from defending their belts because of any illness or injury, but because their respective promoters could not get broadcast partner Sky Sports to agree to showcase (and bankroll) a fight involving an IBO title.

After years of trying to present WBU, WBF and various 'Intercontinental' and 'International' baubles as legitimate championships to their viewers, Sky decided to significantly up their quality control last summer and it appears the IBO - and the three Britons who held IBO titles - have become a causality of that new policy.

"It's not fair to call it a strict 'policy' as such but there's no doubt what we are trying to do is concentrate on the titles from the more widely recognised sanctioning bodies. That means British, Commonwealth and European Titles and, at world level, WBC, WBA and IBF titles. There are the ones recognised across the world. I'd also add the WBO into that purely because of the WBO's history in this country with (the reigns of) Benn, Eubank, Collins and Hamed all lending it credibility in this country. I think they are the titles which we should try and concentrate on."

In a move which may puzzle some fans, Sky want Thompson in a meaningful fight but not in an IBO title defence. Thompson was even asked to challenge Mark Hobson for the British Title on the show and, while that would be an excellent fight, at age 41 Thompson understandably feels miffed that he, a proud world-class title holder if not exactly a 'world champion', was asked to fight for a domestic belt he has twice relinquished without ever losing in the ring.

"It's not fair to call it a strict 'policy' as such but there's no doubt what we are trying to do is concentrate on the titles from the more widely recognised sanctioning bodies. That means British, Commonwealth and European Titles and, at world level, WBC, WBA and IBF titles. There are the ones recognised across the world. I'd also add the WBO into that purely because of the WBO's history in this country with (the reigns of) Benn, Eubank, Collins and Hamed all lending it credibility in this country. I think they are the titles which we should try and concentrate on."

Thanks for the articles and links, it's interesting stuff but this tail end section is exactly what I'm alluding to, specifically the IBO Heavyweight Title has sustained it's credibility for 18 years being held by Lewis, Klitschko, Fury and Joshua. It has been held by the elites of their respective eras. Perhaps in other divisions the champions aren't of note - however the same could be applied to all sanctioning bodies as I again mentioned earlier - Charles Martin IBF heavyweight champion meant IBF title loses some credibility. Bermane Stiverne WBC heavyweight champion meant WBC loses some credibility. This scenario applies to all sanctioning bodies across the board and in the constantly evolving landscape, title credibility is dictated by the names which held the titles not whichever "ABC" abbreviation is attached to the title's sanctioning body.